Calendar Details:
Monday, June 2
4:00 pm - Governmental Affairs Committee, Room 280. AGENDA: Town Hall Day Preparation; Discussion of Hot Topics
5:00 pm - Council Workshop, Room 267
7:30 pm - Citizens' Forum, Room 267
Wednesday, June 3
Town Hall Day, Raleigh, NC
Agenda Notes:
Business Corridor Worker Training Grants – FY09 Pilot Program
Staff Resource:
Brad Richardson, 704-336-3857 or brichardson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Since 2004, Workforce Development has been a key part of the City's Economic Development Strategic Framework. The 2007 Business Corridor Revitalization Strategic Plan identified workforce as a weakness of the business corridors and recommended that the City begin to work with companies located in the business corridors for specific job training needs.
In FY09, we will pilot an initiative called the Business Corridor Worker Training Program that provides grants to targeted industries and small businesses located within the City's Business Corridor Revitalization Geography for the purpose of funding job training to improve worker skills. Economic Development staff will administer the program in partnership with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board (WDB), and will fund it with $100,000 from the City's Development and Revitalization Fund. Attached is a brief description of the program.
Information items:
Justice and Public Safety Task Force
County Staff Resource:
Michelle Lancaster-Sandlin, Mecklenburg County Associate General Manager 704-336-2621 or Michelle.Lancaster@MecklenburgCountyNC.gov
The Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners want to make you aware of their intentions to appoint a Justice and Public Safety Task Force. They are seeking ten people to serve on this task force which will review the community's public safety and crime fighting needs and current practices, and will recommend solutions to the Board on priorities to make the most effective impact on the criminal justice system in our community.
The task force will be co-chaired by Shirley Fulton, former Chief Superior Court Judge and Harry Nurkin, retired CEO for Carolinas Healthcare System and will begin its work in June. Members of the Board of County Commissioners will make appointments to the task force.
If you have citizens you think would be good to serve, you can suggest they apply online by Wednesday, June 11. In order to do so they should go online.
Applicants must be Mecklenburg County residents, cannot be a current elected official or a candidate for elected office. They must also be able to devote time for meetings and additional work during some weekdays between June and September. Experience in the criminal justice system is not a requirement to serve. Those selected for appointment will be notified.
In addition to requesting appointment to this task force, there are several ways people may participate in this public process, as follows:
- The task force's meetings will be open to the public.
- The process may include the use of focus groups, surveys, or public meetings. Visit the web site to provide contact information and areas of interest.
- Residents may provide comments either via email at citizeninvolvement@mecklenburgcountync.gov or by writing the co-chairs, c/o Mecklenburg County Manager's Office, 600 East Fourth Street, Charlotte, NC 28202.
- Residents may sign-up for regular email updates and follow the task force's work on the web site. Information such as meeting schedules, agenda topics, presentations, etc. will be posted throughout the process.
Johnston and Mecklenburg Mills
Staff Resource:
Stan Wilson, 704-336-333 or swilson@ci.charlotte.nc.us
In November 2007, Council approved negotiating an agreement with the NoDa Mills LLC. Since that time, attorneys for the City, Horack Talley and NoDa Mills LLC have been negotiating an agreement on the sale and redevelopment of the property. Approval of the agreement was originally scheduled for a March Council meeting. However, additional legal points required further negotiation.
Staff feels that the developer has been very cautious due to the current market and the condition of the properties. Staff received a response to the latest draft of the agreement on May 27, 2008 and Horack Talley is reviewing the changes and comments to the document. Once this draft of the agreement has been finalized, staff will perform the required 10-day notice of the sale and seek City Council approval.
Staff recently received a call from a concerned citizen in NoDa regarding crime at the site. Staff made site visits to ensure that the property remains boarded up. Staff will have discussions with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department regarding increased security at the site.
FY2008 Q3 Small Business Enterprise Utilization Report
Staff Resource:
Alicia Jolla, 704-336-2116 or ajolla@ci.charlotte.nc.us
The City exceeded its 10% FY08 SBE Utilization goal for informal purchases with nearly 11.7% informal spending with SBEs during the third quarter and YTD utilization of 12.1%. The total amount spent with SBE firms for informal purchases this quarter was $2.06 million and $6.47 million has been spent YTD.
Other highlights for FY08 Q3 include:
- $11.7 million spent with minority and/or women-owned firms ($35.9 Million YTD)
- Nearly $1.3 million spent with SBEs on Formal contracts ($2.86 Million YTD)
Attached is the Third Quarter FY2008 SBE Report.
MTC and TSAC Public Hearing on Proposed Fare Increase Summary
Staff Resource:
Keith Parker 704-336-3855 or kparker@ci.charlotte.nc.us
On Wednesday, May 28, 2008, the Metropolitan Transit Commission (MTC) and the Transit Services Advisory Committee (TSAC) held a public hearing on a proposed $0.20 base fare increase on Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) services. Express, regional express and paratransit fares will increase as prescribed in CATS' Fare Policy. CATS is proposing the fare increase that would go in effect October 6, 2008, because the cost of diesel fuel is rising at a rapid pace. Diesel fuel has increased 29 percent since January 2008. CATS budgeted the average price per gallon of diesel fuel at $2.60 and $2.30 for FY08 and FY09, respectively. The agency is currently paying $3.73 per gallon of diesel fuel. Due to the increase, CATS is projecting fuel expenses to grow by $4,033,048 in the FY09 operating budget. By implementing the proposed fare increase, CATS will bring in a projected $2,099,450 in additional revenue.
Ten citizens spoke at the public hearing and 10 citizens submitted comments in writing. Their suggestions/concerns included the following:
- The increase would adversely affect the poor, homeless, and people living with disabilities because those groups are on fixed/limited incomes and can least afford to pay the increase.
- CATS should look for cost-saving measures such as cutting some routes, reducing idling, and converting to methanol.
- CATS could enhance revenue by charging for parking.
- Several citizens commented that even with the increase, CATS is still a bargain.
- CATS should decrease the fare if fuel prices drop significantly.
- CATS should increase service on some routes.
The MTC will vote on the proposed fare increase at its June meeting
